The Reverend Mister Rookie 


Ron 


Arrives in-India ~~~. 


A Playlet in: Three Aes 
\ BY EMIL W. MENZEL 
é Sakti, India 


\ 


THE FOREIGN MISSION BOARD 
EVANGELICAL SYNOD OF NORTH AMERICA 
2951 Tilden Street 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Single Copies 25 Cents 
15 pope — one performance — at Two Dollars 
+ Send money with order to the 
e. - Washington Office, as above 


This Play is dedicated to the Young People 
of St. Andrews Evang. Church, Buffalo, N. Y. 





EDEN PUBLISHING HOUSE PRINT, 8ST. LOUIS, MO, 





he 
Reverend Mister Rookie arrives in India 


A Playlet in three Acts 


By EMIL W. MENZEL 


CAST 
The Rev. Mr. Rookie—the new missionary. 
Mrs. Rookie—his wife. 
The Rev. F. A. Goetsch—senior missionary at Bisrampur. 
Mrs. F. A. Goetsch—his wife 
Milton Lang, M. D.—our first medical missionary. 
The Rev. J. C. Koenig—educational missionary. 
The Rev. John Schultz—superintendent of Leper Asylum. 
Mrs. J. Schultz—his wife. 
Premdas—headmaster of school at Bisrampur. 


Dukeram—his friend. 


Pyare 

Hannah \—girls of the Bisrampur Orphanage. 
Martha J 

Mariyam f ay f 
Pawitin (en servants in missionary’s home. 


Other Indian men and women as needed, 


INDIA 





- 
BAITALPUR 
= 


1s P a 
BISRAMPUR | parsABHADER 









SARANGARH 


@ MAHASAMUND 


PATNA STATE 


AMERICAN —) xyaeiad 
EVANGELICAL 
Mi SSION ED uel: PATHA 
Evangelical Synod of 1% A. 





PLAY 
Act I—A sitting room in the Bisrampur' mission 
bungalow. 
Act II—The dining room in the new bungalow at Raipur, 
six weeks later. 
Act I1I—Scene 1—Same as in Act I. Six weeks after Act 


II. Scene 2—At the Bisrampur Orphanage gate, im- 
mediately after 1. 





NOTE 


This playlet attempts to portray the actual enterprise 
of the Evangelical Synod of N, A. in the Central Provinces 
of India, known there as the American Evangelical Mis- 
sion. Not all details, facts, types of work, ete., could be 
touched upon. What is here given is sufficient to depict 
the scope and importance of the work being done. All 
missionary characters are Americans and, with, the excep- 
tion of Mr. and Mrs. Rookie, now in service on the field. 
This genuineness makes the playlet all the more interest- 
ing. Practically every incident produced here has hap- 
pened to one or the other of our missionaries at some time 
or another. Mr. and Mrs. Rookie might be taken to repre- 
sent any new missionary couple. 


(Where a printed program is provided it might be 
well to include the above. Otherwise let it be read be- 
fore the first curtain rises or between the acts. Other in- 
formation for such interludes and for a printed program 
may be found on the last page or will be furnished by the 
Foreign Mission Board, 2951 Tilden St., Washington, D. C.) 


9 
a) 


MAP 


The map appearing on page two will give the per- 
formers an idea as to relative directions and distances, 
areas and stations of the field. Raipur, the main station 
or headquarters, is over 500 miles west of Calcutta and over 
700 miles east of Bombay but connected by railway to both. 





SUGGESTIONS FOR PERFORMANCE 


1. The missionaries’ homes are one story, of brick 
or stone and plastered, with no wall paper. They are 
furnished very simply, often with home-made furniture, 
although grass rugs are found at times, also cane furniture. 
The stage setting must be plain, even crude. The dining 


room has only a table, a few old chairs, and an old-fash- 
ioned cup-board. The parlor has an old rocker, old arm 
chairs, an old center table. Plain lace curtains may be 
used, also old kerosine lamps, but no electric lights, floor 
lamps, and such. 


2. In India the missionaries dress in palm beach 
suits, or in white trousers with dark coats. Unless tropi- 
cal helmets are available, the men wear no hats. The lady 
missionaries dress in summer clothes of very simple pat- 
tern and make. Avoid all display of finery, jewelry, etc. 
Remember this is back-woods India. 


5. The Indian men at our stations wear something 
like pajama trousers without any creases, ordinary shirts 
like those worn by our laborers, and usually worn loosely 
or hanging out at one side, also a head-wrapping or turban, 
but that is not absolutely necessary. Pictures so far pub- 
lished in synodical papers and printed matter will give an 
idea. Most men and all boys go barefooted, but in this 
play both had better wear old and old-fashioned shoes. 


Ae 





4. The Indian women wear the long flowing gar- 
ment, called “sari,” as shown in pictures, mostly of thin 
material and highly colored. Shoes should be worn. The 
bride might have exceptionally bright colored sari. Eight 
or nine yards of goods, even cheescloth, will make a 
splendid sari when wrapped about the waist once or twice 
to make the skirt and then flung over the shoulder and 
head. : 


5. Little “make-up” or coloring is needed for the 
Americans, The Indians may be of a light brown color, 
but do not use burnt cork under any circumstances, rather 
attempt no coloring whatever. 


6. All characters should be older adolescents or 
adults, except the three orphans who are seniors, and the 
younger girls of the orphanage. 


7. The object of this play is missionary information 
and missionary education. Hence the long lines and heavy 
parts. Acting out such parts makes them very interesting 
to the audience. Therefore have action with good taste and 
all the comedy permissable to enliven every scene. Let 
everybody be natural, not stiff. Read about the principal 
characters in “Who’s Who in Foreign Missions,’ published 
by the Washington office. 


8. For the final scene and tableau the bare stage will 
do if its walls have a plaster effect. Otherwise simple walls 
can be built with Dennison’s paper or by hanging old can- 
vass over poles. A door may do for the gate in the scene. 


9. In presenting this play the performers preach mis- 
sions. Perhaps they could repeat the play at other points 
and for neighboring congregations. 


10. For further information, photographs of people, 
buildings, scenes, costumes, etc., address—Board of Foreign 
Missions, 2951 Tilden St., N. W., Washington, D. C. 


SB ee 


7 ACT I. 
The Rev. Mr. Rookie arrives in India. 


Mrs. Goetsch: So you have been in India two weeks now? 
How do you like India? 


Mrs. Rookie: Two weeks isn’t a very long time. 


Mr. Rookie: Two weeks.is just about the length of a decent 
honeymoon; and if a fellow weren’t so desperately 
in love he couldn’t even tell whether he liked his 
wife or not in that time. Two weeks is just enough 
time to show you that India is the very opposite uf 
America, but not enough time to tell if you will like 
it or not. We came to India to work and to throw 
our life in with that of the people. And we are 
simply going to like it here. 

Mrs. Goetsch: I think that is the best way. There is no 
use in looking back. But I know you will like it. 
There is hardly a missionary who hasn’t learned to 
like India even with all its inconveniences and draw- 
backs. We wouldn’t leave our people here for any- 
thing. 

Mrs. Rookie: Maybe we'll become so Indianized that we 
won't want to go back to America. eis Ole IS: 
Imcanvimazinesthates, sine At the end of seven 
years I’ll be so homesick for America. I know it 
will be hard to stick it out seven years before go- 
ing back home. Seven years is a long time. 

Mrs. Goetsch: Oh, yes, you will be glad enough to go home 
on furlough, but the surprising thing is, that, after 
you are home awhile, you will get homesick for India 
and can’t wait until you get back here. 

Mr. Rookie: No ice cream for seven years. Isn’t that 
awtul! 


1 G 


Mrs. Goetsch: (Laughing) Oh! That won’t be the worst 
of it. At that you may taste ice cream before those 
seven years are up. 

(Someone is heard coughing outside the door.) 


Mrs. Goetsch: Someone must be there to see me. The In- 
dians merely cough instead of knocking at your door. 
Sometimes you don’t know whether the person wants 
to come in or really has bronchitis. Having a con- 
sumptive around is about as bad as a gang of boys 
pulling doorbells in America, ... (Mr. and Mrs. 
Rookies arise to leave.) ... No, don’t go! These 
people have no secrets. Whoever it is won’t mind 
if you stay. And what is more, since you don’t know 
Hindi, you will not be able to understand them any- 
way. ... (Calls toward door—‘Ah-Oh”—which means 
“come in” in Hindi.) 

(Premdas enters.) 

Premdas: (Addressing Mrs. Goetsch) Salaam, Mamaji! 
(Turning to Mr. and Mrs: Rookie he salaams to 
them. All parties salaam in return. Premdas 
salaams with an informal salute, the others merely 
nod and say, Salaam.) 

Mrs. Goetsch: Well, Premdas, how is your school getting 
along? Is there anything I can do for you? 

Premdas: (Draws himself together with effort and speaks 
with great dignity.) Memsahib! I am now earning 
eighteen rupees a month and am headmaster of the 
school. I ought to have a wife. 

Mrs. Goetsch: And whom are you thinking of, Premdas? 
Is she a very good girl? 

Premdas: Mamaji, you know that it is the custom among 
us that the mother and father arrange for the wed- 
ding and pick the husband or wife for their sons 
and daughters. I have lived in your orphan asylum 


Sere pele 


ever since I was found almost dead in the bush dur- 
ing the famine and brought to you. You, Mamaji, 
are my mother, and Papaji is my father. I am de- 
pending on you to choose me a wife. 

Mrs. Goetsch: But, Premdas, haven’t you someone in mind? 
I want you to have a wife you will like and love. 
She will be your wife—not mine, and you are the 
one who must be satisfied. 

Premdas: Whomever Mamaji chooses will be good. She 
will choose me a good Christian wife. Is there no 
girl of marriageable age in the girl’s orphanage? 

Mrs. Goetsch: Yes, there are three in the orphanage whose 
marriage I must arrange. But I would like to en- 
courage you to choose for yourself. I will call these 
three girls to let you see whether you like either of 
them; and if you would like to marry one of them 
we will ask her because she should have the right 
to choose too, ... (She goes to door and calls) :.. 
“Miriam, go to the girls’ orphanage and tell Pyare, 
Hannah and Martha to come to me.” ... (She turns 
to Premdas) ... “Now, you hide behind those cur- 
tains and keep your eyes and ears open.” 

(Pyare, Hannah and Martha enter and salaam.) 

Mrs. Goetsch: How are my seniors of the girls’ orphanage 
today? What are the other girls doing? 

Hannah: Just now they are all working hard in their gar- 
dens. It’s so dry they must carry water from the 
well every morning and evening, and you know the 
well is quite far. But the gardens look fine. The 
girls can hardly wait ’till the red peppers ripen. 

Martha: Our gardens are ever so much better than those 
of the people in other villages. Why, we raise three 
times as much on a small piece of ground as they 


do on a much larger one. Mr. Konrad showed us 
how to make our gardens, 


a= oo 


Hannah: Today a new bag of rice arrived from the 
storehouse. The girls have cleaned and shelled the 
rice already. Now we can call those whose duty it 
is to cook supper this evening. I think every girl 
in the orphanage over eleven years of age can cook 
supper, and every girl helps. 

Mrs. Goetsch: And what have you to report, Pyare? 

Pyare: Shakuntala is a little better in her reading now, 
but I must help Rachel quite a bit with her arith- 
metic. But I think she will be able to catch up 
with her class in school again in a few days. Hav- 
ing the fever so often has put her back quite a bit. 
This evening a scorpion was found in the boarding 
house but it did not sting anyone, and I’m glad of 
it. Shanti tore her sari on the thornbush but mended 
it again. She sews real neatly now, and when she 
goes home at Christmas she plans to teach her 
mother how to sew. Knowing how to sew certainly 
is helpful. In the village I come from, no one knows 
how to sew. 

Mrs. Goetsch: Very well, girls. Tomorrow you may come 
to help me sort that box of clothes which the women 
of the church at (Buffalo) sewed for our girls. You 
know, Christmas is almost here, and the girls all 
are waiting for their new saris and jackets. This 
box also contains some clothing for the boys, and 
dolls, and balls, and, perhaps, even.more...... You 
may go now! 

Martha: That would be a great Christmas if every boy 
got a ball and every girl a doll beside clothes for 

the new year. ... (They salaam and go away.) 

Mrs. Goetsch: (Addressing Mr. and Mrs. Rookie after the 
girls have left the room.) Well, I don’t believe our 
people in America can fully realize how happy and 
contented these Indian boys and girls are with a lit- 


Oe 


tle of the plainest clothing, and a ball or a doll, such 
as one can buy in the five-and-ten-cent stores in 


America. ... (Calling) ... Premdas, you may come 
out of your hiding! ... Well, what do you think? 

Premdas: (Enthusiastically) Truly, Pyare is like the full 
moon! 


Mrs. Rookie to Mr. Rookie (aside: I’d like to have you 
call me a full moon and get away with it. 

Mrs. Goetsch, answering Premdas: I suppose you mean by 
that—that you would like Pyare. Well, I’ll speak 
to her if you wish me to.... (He eagerly assents, 
saying, “Jee Ha.”’) ... But, give her a few days 
to think it over. You may come after three days 
to receive your answer. I wish you good luck, Prem- 
das. Salaam! (She nods and waves him away.) 

Premdas: Mamaji, I thank you. Salaam! (He salutes and 
retires from the room.) 

Mrs, Goetsch: Mariyam! ... (She glides in softly) 

Call Pyare again. ... 
(Mrs. Goetsch rests and thinks. Mrs. Rookie looks 
knowingly at Mr. Rookie.) 

Mrs. Goetsch to Pyare, who stands ill at ease: Pyare, how 
old are you? 

Pyare: Twenty years old, Memsahib! 

Mrs. Goetsch: You are a big girl and quite old enough to 
get married if you wish. ... Do you wish to marry? 
... (Pyare hangs her head bashfully.) 

Pyare: (Thoughtfully) My sister became a widow when 
ten years old; just half as old as I am now... . 
But you are my mother, and Papaji is my father, 
and I am happy with you. Why should I want a 
husband? 

Mrs. Goetsch: Premdas, the headmaster of the school, was 
here and wishes to have you for his wife. Do you 
wish to marry him? 


— {0 = 


Pyare: (Still hangs her head very bashfully and does not 


look up as she answers.) Mamaji, why should I 
leave you? 


Mrs. Goetsch: Pyare, I want you to do just as you like in 


Pyare: 


this matter. You do not need to marry if you do not 
care to, and, even if you should, you are not com- 
pelled to mary Premdas. Only, Premdas chose you 
from among all the other girls and asked for you. 
So he must like you. He is a good young man. Per- 
haps you would rather think it over. ... Suppose you 
come back day after tomorrow and let me know. 
Should you want more time you can have it; only 
come back day after tomorrow. Will that be right? 

Why should Mamaji not be right? ... Salaam, 
Mamaji. . . . (She walks out rather slowly without 
once having looked up or around.) 


Mrs. Goetsch: Now Mr. and Mrs. Rookie, you have seen a 


“proxy proposal’. ... I have arranged for a wed- 
ding—perhaps! We need to do that now and then. 
The relatives and friends of the children would blame 
us terribly if we did not arrange for the marriage 
of our orphans. In fact, it would be a calamity, be- 
cause arranging one’s own marriage simply is not 
done here, and in India everybody must marry. And 
the relatives even blame us because we do not let the 
girls marry until they are sixteen years old, and even 
older if we can possibly hold them off. Most of the 
girls in the villages are married and have children 
before they are much over fourteen, and sometimes 
much younger. 


Mr. Rookie: Oh, so that’s what the excitement was about. 


We knew something was up, but couldn’t just make 
out what. ... This Hindi jabber sounds like an im- 
possible language to me. 


Mrs. Goetsch: Ah, but you'll learn shortly. Just stick to it. 


Ge 


Mrs. Rookie: (Eagerly) But, did the proposal catch? What 
did she say? 


Mrs. Goetsch: (Laughing) Well, she did what all of them 
do; ... pretended she was not anxious... . I think 
she is tickled to death to get Premdas; but, you know, 
girls don’t like to show it. Probably she has made 
up her mind by this time, but if you tell them to 
take their time to decide, it helps them to work their 
bluff of not being anxious. Women are alike the 
world over! 

(Mariyam, the servant, enters.) 


Mariyam: Memsahib, the Doctor Sahib has come. 
(Mrs. Goetsch leaves the room and reappears quickly 
with Dr. Lang.) 


Dr. Lang: (Hilariously) Hello! Here are the Rookies! 
(Shakes hands with both at once.) How has India 
been treating you? Have you been chased by any 
tigers as yet, and how many elephants have tossed 
you into the air? ... You know, I had a notion that 
when I came to India I’d find tigers stalking around 
the streets picking the fattest, plumpest people as a 


morsel for supper. . .. Sorry to disappoint you, but 
you'll hardly see a tiger until you get to an American 
ZOO. 


Mr. Rookie: No, we haven’t seen any tigers, but we heard 
the jackals howling last night, and somebody said a 
wild cat came into the house last night....Huh!... 
And we saw some crocodiles down at the river today. 

Dr. Lang: Yes, there is plenty of that sort of excitement 
around here. But there is no danger of tigers until 
you get down near Mahasamund and Khariar where 
Rev. Albrecht and Rev. Feierabend are stationed. 
That’s real jungle country, and you are liable to see 
things there,—if you hang around long enough. 


Mrs. Rookie: (Timidly) I suppose it’s very dangerous to 
go into the woods there. 


Dr. Lang: Quite the contrary. Rev. Albrecht and Rev. 
Feierabend, who live in a regular tiger jungle, never 
owned a gun. A good many of our missionaries camp 
in that tiger country for weeks, during their long 
preaching tours into the village districts, and al- 
though they see tigers and leopards now and then 
the meeting always ends peacefully, with each going 
AtSIOWNEWAY. «= ot). 


Dr. Lang to Mrs. Goetsch: May I ask for a glass of cool 
water. Have been over at Tilda all day in the hot 
sun trying to get some ideas for our hospital build- 
ing since we at last, have the plot of ground. 


Mrs. Goetsch: Certainly, Doctor! ... Mariyam, bring the 
Doctor Sahib a glass of water, also some tea and 
cookies...... And, Doctor, how is the Tilda proposi- 


tion developing? 


Dr. Lang: Fairly well. ... Purchasing land in India is 
about the queerest thing you ever heard of. Back 
in the good old U. S. A. if you want land all you do 
is to see the real estate agent and buy if you can 
agree on the price. ... But over here in India you 
must go to the village owner first. Likely as not, 

_ he does not care to sell even if you offer him twice 
as much as the land is worth. ... If he agrees to 
sell, then you must go to the Indian officials to ob- 
tain their permission, and after that to the English 
officers. ‘Each of these take from one to three years 
to decide your case, and the chances are you don’t 
get it in the end.... But at last things have been 
straightened out at Tilda. We also have the build- 
ing plans drawn, enough money in the treasury for 
the modest beginning of a hospital, and all we are 


hes RE 


waiting for now is the arrival of more building mate- 
rial. We are very busy just now. 
Mr, Rookie: How much of a hospital do you expect to build? 
Dr. Lang: That depends upon our finances. We are be- 
ginning with a good dispensary, operating rooms, 
and a ward for surgical cases. Whenever more 
money is available we can do more. The Medical 

Mission Society in America is stirring things up, and 

already has sent some equipment and money, but 

there is much more to be done. If people in America 
only knew what you can do in a medical way over 
here in India they would certainly back up that 

Medical Missionary Society. Hope many of our Amer- 

ican friends will join that society. We are counting 

on it. 

(Considerable commotion outside the door. At last 
the voice of Rev. Goetsch is heard above the mur- 
muring and the shrieks of pain.) 

Rev. Goetsch: Bring him in here and lay him on the couch, 
but be careful with that leg, or he’ll bleed to death. 

(Rev. Goetsch enters room excitedly, is surprised to 
find the room occupied, yet seems to see no one 
but Dr. Lang, whom he approaches and addresses. ) 

Rev. Goetsch: Hello, Doctor; you here? That’s luck. This 
could not be more opportune. Here’s a poor fellow 
who was attacked by a wild boar while working in 
the rice field. His leg is badly torn, and I am afraid 
an artery has been severed...... (To the men out- 

SiG) er aa eae Hurry, pring thesmanin. ee 

(The wounded man is brought in on the shoulders 
of two men. The women leave the room. The pa- 
tient is laid on the couch. The doctor removes his 
coat and examines the injured limb, and finding 
the man has fainted, feels the pulse, and issues 
orders.) 


=H tae 


Dr. Lang: He has fainted, from loss of blood. Think we 
got him just in the nick of time. Let’s have plenty 
of bandages, water, disinfectant, and the rest of the 
Thines ae eee (Man revives and groans in agony.) 
(Mrs. Goetsch enters with wash basin, bandages and 

medical kit, and Miryam the servant with a pot 
of water.) 

Mrs. Goetsch: Here they are, Doctor. Knew you would be 
wanting these things, so I went right ahead. Is there 
anything else needed? 

Dr. Lang: Achiebad! That’s what we call service. You’re 
Aerealenurses ss... ees 
(For a moment the Doctor and Rev. Goetsch work 

over the patient, washing and bandaging the 
wound. Then while the doctor continues, Rev. 
Goetsch addresses the Rev. Rookie.) 

Rev. Goetsch: This man was working in the rice field and 
was suddenly attacked by a wild bore without warn- 
ing, the boar charging and knocking him over. His 
screams attracted others who were able to frighten 
the boar before charging a second time. Luckily the 
animal ran to the jungle, for one slash at the man’s 
stomach with those tusks would have finished him 
Baier That gash in the leg was made by the tusk. ... 
I came up just as the boar was disappearing, wrapped 
a clean handkerchief to stop the flow of blood, put 
him in my car, and sped home. ..... Listen to his 
friends outside wailing and moaning. They think 
he’s dead. Jl step out to tell them there is no 
danger, and be back in a moment. 

(He goes out and the wailing ceases. Meanwhile 
the doctor finishes the dressing and the two men 
carry the patient away. Mariyam cleans up as Rev. 
Goetsch returns and is addressed by Mr. Rookie.) 


5 


Mr, Rookie: What would you have done if the doctor had 
not been here? 

Mr. Goetsch: Oh, the best I could. Out here all of us learn 
a little practical medicine, and treating minor cases. 
Sometimes we must even pull teeth. Once I had to 
play doctor all alone during a serious cholera epi- 
demic until help arrived. Naturally we try to do our 
best with everything that comes along. But I am 
very glad Dr. Lang was here to treat this case to- 
day. While we do our best, it is far better to have 
a trained medical man handle such cases. Even at 
that, we can’t attempt anything but the crudest type 
of work until a full staff and the hospital are sup- 
plied. We are glad Dr. Lang arrived after all these 
years of waiting for the doctor. But we need more 
help, and I hope the hospital at Tilda can be com- 
pleted at an early date so that real medical work 
can be done. : 

Mr. Rookie: Do you have many eases like this last one? 

Rev. Goetsch: No, not many. In fact this is the second 
one of its kind during my seventeen years in India. 
We have snake bites to treat once in a while, but 
accident cases belong to your world of automobiles 
and machinery more than to the jungle. 

Dr. Lang: But what we do have here is a lot of malaria, 
boils, and festered sores of all sorts, sore eyes, and so 
forth. Why, practically everybody around here has 
chronic malaria. People haven’t the remotest idea 

‘of sanitation. Rusty scythes and sicklés are used by 
Indians for all sorts of primitive surgery. No won- 
der 60% of all infants died in Bombay five years ago 
frompintectiony.: cis. Smallpox cases run along the 
public roads unhindered...... The people of India 
are more faithful about baths and cleaning teeth than 
we in America, but what good does it do. They use 


mes (7 


the dirtiest and most infected water, green with 
scum, for washing, cooking, and drinking. 

Mr. Rookie: That makes it all the harder. The problem 
seems to be one of education. 

Dr. Lang: That’s right. Good medicines are needed, but 
even more than that—the teaching of good health 
habits in and out of school. 

Rev. Goetsch: Yes, we realize the need of sanitation, public 
health instruction, and such as that, but more than 
that we need doctors, the fully equipped hospital, 
and a medical expert to supervise the many little 
clinics we have scattered about in different places. 

Mr. Rookie: Do you find opportunity for surgical operations 
here, Dr. Lang? 

Dr, Lang: Certainly. The people of India have about every 
ailment we have in America, and a great many more. 
I have performed some operations, since coming to 
India, for the opportunity of which most American 
surgeons would envy me. 

(Enter Mrs. Rookie.) 

Rev. Goetsch: Ah, Mrs. Rookie; I hope you have been able 
to amuse yourself. Regret that we had to leave you 
this afternoon; but work is work. 


Mrs. Rookie: Thank you, but we had a real amusing time. 
We rode down to the river bank in your bullock tonga 
—our first tonga ride. Say, does the tonga always 
jolt like that, and is that all the speed you can make 
with it? Why, it must have taken us over three- 
quarters of an hour to travel the two miles down 
to the river, and, really, I don’t know what is more 
sore—my head from bumping the roof of the tonga, 
or the rest of me from bumping the seat. 

(All laugh) 


Bee es 


Rev. Goetsch: You'll get used to that kind of joy-riding 
after you have spent a few “all days” in the tonga. 
The auto is the time saver for us. We figure that 
an auto saves the time and the salary of two or three 
missionaries every year. Every auto makes a mis- 
sionary just so much more yaluable and effective, 
and we can reach most places with them except those 
out of the way points...... Well, what else did 
you do? 


Mrs. Rookie: We saw Mrs. Goetsch proposing to one of your 
Juliets for a dusky young Romeo. 


Mrs. Goetsch: I suppose you found that quite amusing 
Lnetal eats You’d find the wedding even more amusing. 


Mrs. Rookie: If that’s so, I certainly want to witness it. 
It would be worth coming a hundred miles to see. 


Mrs. Goetsch: It’s only forty miles from Raipur to Bisram- 
pur. Why not come. I invite you to be our guest 
when the wedding occurs. 


Rev. Goetsch: By all means come. We will expect you as 
our guests for a whole week for that wedding. 


Mrs, Rookie: You certainly can, I answer for my husband. 
It’s all settled. 


(Curtain) 


GF 


AGIA: 
Learning more about India. 


Scene—Dining Room at Raipur. Table in center of 
room with some dishes on it, 


Time—Six weeks later. 


1. No one in room as Curtain rises. Ramdin, a female 
servant, enters with a few plates and glasses which she 
proceeds to put on a shelf or in a simple china closet. 
She looks at a plate and decides it does not shine enough. 
Wipes it off with her dirty clothing. Does same with an- 
other plate or two and a glass. Then retires slouchily. 


2. Fause of a moment or two. Then Mrs. Rookie’s 
voice is heard outside: 


Mrs. Rookie: Shoo, you fresh, old cows. You don’t have to 
come into my bedroom, even if the Hindus say you 
are sacred. 


(Enters, seats herself in a chair as if exhausted, and 
begins to wipe perspiration from face with her 
handkerchief, and speaks excitedly.) 


Mrs. Rookie: The goats came into the parlor... and ate 
ee OUTE a ee OLTMStINAS emt Cree ome ee and) NOwarcus 
these horrid cows . .. seem to be looking .. . for 
theirs. = share! ~ 3 (Invexasperation) ..... I hope 
that wire from Calcutta arrives soon so we can build 
a fence around the house. ... That’s the only way. 
you can keep these nasty goats and cows out of your 
house and have a decent garden! (Continues to wipe 
perspiration, but grows even more excited.) ..... 
If any one ever writes me again from America . 
that I can take it easy over here because I have so 
many servants ... I-I-I’ll throw a brick at them 
over the radio. .... (Somewhat calmer) ... Give 


=e p= 


me a good old gas stove, ...a vacuum cleaner,... 


an electric wash machine, ... and our American 
climate, . . . and I’ll never wish to see a servant 
again. ... Servants are a nuisance. . .. But I sup- 


pose we must have them over here in India, for with- 

out our American conveniences and when the ther- 

mometer climbs to 95 degrees in the shade in Febru- 
ary, and jumps to 115, in June, 3 2),., Huhj why 
you'd kill yourself trying to do all your housework 

. And when would we missionaries’ wives ever 
find time to do any missionary work? .. . It’s get- 
ting hotter every day. 

(Mr. Rookie enters with an open book in his hand 
and mumbling to. himself. He paces up and down 
the room several times without noticing his wife, 
who watches him for a while without speaking.) 

Mr, Rookie: Learning Hindi is the limit... . First of all— 
it has an alphabet that nobody but a Chinaman can 
read. . . . Then—it has so many letters you can’t 
pronounce all at one time or guess what kind of a 
noise to make, ... and in the third place—the words 
are such, that when you have learned them ten times, 
you find you have forgotten them eleven times.. . 
(Stalks out again.) 

Mrs. Rookie: (looks around, then into a corner—) 
Mercy! There’s another toad right in our dining room, 
I detest toads! (Calls) Ramdin! 

(Ramdin enters, approaches Mrs. Rookie, and awaits 

orders. Mrs. Rookie makes some effort to speak, 
even with her hands, but does not seem able to find 
the words. At last she calls disgustedly to her hus- 
band in the next room.) 

Mrs. Rookie: (Addressing her husband as he enters.) ... 
This is just terrible—to be compelled to command 
servants who don’t understand a word of English 


a Oh sees 


when you know hardly any Hindi. Tell me, what’s 
theshindi@ word form Toady: 20... ae. (Husband has 
been looking at her with fear; then rushes out.) 


Mr. Rookie: (Returns quickly with a dictionary) ... Wait 
a minute until I look it up... . (Looks up word 
without finding it, and shakes head) ... This dic- 
tionary isn’t any good. Hasn’t the word “Toad” in 
it.... Let me look up... “Frog’”—‘‘Frog”—“Frog”’ 
—Let me see—‘Frog” is—is—‘‘Manedak.” 


Mrs. Rookie: (Gleefully) ... Ramdin, ...manedak... 
floor ... par... hai—now, what’s the word for— 
“throw it out’? ... (Makes motions.) 


Mr. Rookie: (Rather self-conscious) ... “Penko,”’ dear! 


Mrs. Rookie: Yes, Yes, ... Ramdin, ...manedak . floor . 
par . hai . Penko. it. out.... Do you understand, 
Ramdin? 

(Ramdin looks at her blankly. Then Mrs. Rookie 
walks over to the corner, points to the toad, makes 
motion as to throw it out, and says, “Penko.” 
Ramdin understands, nods her head, looks at the 
toad but hesitates, then goes to the table, takes 
two soup spoons, picks up toad with these and 
takes it out. Mr. and Mrs. Rookie are amazed, look 
at each other, but cannot speak. Ramdin returns 
immediately and puts the spoons on the table.) 


Mrs. Rookie: (Sinking into a chair) ... Horrors! 

If we hadn’t seen it with our own eyes, look what 
we would be eating with! ... (Arises angrily; takes 
the two spoons, gives them to Ramdin, points her to 
the door, and says, ... “Dho dena”... Whereupon 
Ramdin disappears, Mrs. Rookie looking after her 
and shaking her head. Mr. Rookie stands with arms 
akimbo, also shaking his head.) 


(At this juncture Rev. Koenig enters rather jovially.) 


cee hae 


Rev. Koenig: Greetings, Friends! ... (Noticing their exas- 
perated look, he says) Must have had another ex- 
perience, did you? 

Mrs. Rookie: We’ve just had a good sample of servant’s 
work. Our cleaning woman picked up a toad with 
two of our soup spoons and then put them right 
back on the table without washing them. 

Rev. Koenig: That’s apt to be the case with a new ser- 
vant. You see, they do not have those things in 
their home such as we are accustomed to use, and 
consequently know nothing about our way of keeping 
house. Just be patient a bit longer; they learn after 
a while. 

Mr. Rookie: Learn, did you say? ... Only this morning 
we set her to washing the windows; but after a while 
they looked worse than before. Here she had 
smeared them with soap on one side and had dried 
off the other side without disturbing the soap in the 
least. Learn? They have much to learn! 

Rev. Koenig: That’s similar to some of our first house- 

keeping experiences. ... But not all our experiences 
were due to the stupidity of the servants. Often 
these are very clever, yes, and too much so. 
One day Mrs. Koenig noticed that sugar, rice and 
other things were disappearing rapidly. So she ques- 
tioned the table servant about it. He bowed and 
answered like a wise man: “The sugar is your’s; 
the rice is your’s, and I am your’s. We are all 
your’s. How can that which already is your’s steal 
what is your’s?” That’s logic! 

Mrs. Rookie: Is there much stealing going on? 

Rev. Koenig: Yes, there is always petty thievery. You must 
keep watch over your belongings. But when you con- 
sider how little these people possess and how much 
we have; how very rich all of us seem in their eyes, 


—the stealing is not bad. Our more valuable prop- 
erty is really safer here in India than over in Amer- 
ica. I have a warm spot in my heart for the Indian. 
For instance: The average Indian will take far bet- 
ter care of his father and mother, or his relatives, 
or a caste member, than the average American does 
of his flesh and blood. Here in India they will share 
the last grain of rice with members of their family; 
and beggars do not starve in India until everybody 
else is starving also. ... They are a happy and con- 
ented lot. They are among the poorest but certainly 
the most contented people on earth. They do not 
“kick” or complain. Far from being quarrelsome, 
they are extremely peaceful and friendly. And, as 
for being grateful, it was actually pathetic to see how 
they hung around the house all night, when Dr. and 
Mrs. Gass left for America, in order to bid them 
good bye. 

Mr. Rookie: Yes, someone was telling that when Gass’s baby 
was ill the Indians inquired about the child’s health 
even more than did the whites. 

Rev. Koenig: That’s true. ... And they seldom keep a 
grudge. No nation on earth has had a more tragic 
history than the Indian people, and yet these people 
do not know hate. ...I don’t believe any nation ever 
strove for it’s freedom with less malice or spite than 
these Indians are asking for home rule now. 

(Enter Ramdin with more dishes. Puts them into 
china closet. Has dish rag hanging over one arm.) 

Mrs. Rookie: Well, of all things! ... Ramdin, where did 
you get that dish cloth? ... Rev. Koenig, will you 
please ask her where she got it? 

Rev, Koenig: Ramdin, tumko yah bartan ka kapra kaha 
mila? 

Ramdin: Ku-re Kach-re may. 


ee 


Rev. Koenig: She says: “On the rubbish heap.” - 

Mrs. Rookie: J thought so. Yesterday I noticed her wash- 
ing the dishes with such a dirty rag that it almost 
made me sick. So I gave her a clean one only to 
find that she persisted in using the dirty cloth. I 
suppose she finally threw that on the rubbish heap 
to be sure not to use it again. Anyway, she must 
wash those dishes again. (Looks to Rev. Koenig for 
aid as she says the latter.) 

Rev. Koenig: Ramdin, Memsahib ne kaha ki sab barthan pir 
saf karo. 

(With that Ramdin picks up the dishes and leaves 
the room mumbling.) 

Rev. Koenig: She’s mumbling that these memsahibs are 
queer and so wasteful of good things. No doubt she 
will take that old rag home and think she has made 
a find... . (Arises as if to leave.) 

Mrs. Rookie: Please be seated a bit longer, Rev. Koenig... . 
‘Have you heard that the quarantine ladies claim 

* they have discovered the real reason for bobbed hair? 

Rev. Koenig: No. Who are these quarantine ladies? 

Mrs. Rookie: Oh, that’s what my husband calls Miss Ket- 
tler, Miss Riechers, Miss Schichi and the rest of the 
zenana workers. And he has given them that title 
because they do the missionary work among purdah 
women who are kept in absolute seclusion by their 
husbands. Hubbie here says these women have been 
put into that kind of a quarantine because of the 
jealousy of their husbands, And so, instead of call- 
ing our workers ‘“zenana ladies” he simply says, 
“quarantine ladies.” 


Rev. Koenig: That’s a jolly title. ... But what is the real 
reason for bobbed hair. You have aroused my curi- 
osity. 


Mrs. Rookie: Why, it’s “safety first!” You see, they. found 
20 da 


that here in India they do the same thing to widows 
that is being done in America to all women. They 
cut their hair so no man will ever think them good 
looking again. 

Rev. Koenig: Ah-ha! ... But, pardon me, Mrs. Rookie; I 
notice you are lettting your hair grow again. There 
must be some reason, (Chuckles as Mrs. Rookie 
shows some embarrassment. ) 

Mr. Rookie: By the way, Koenig; how is your Teacher’s 
Institute progressing? 

Rev. Koenig: Very well, I think. I hope it will help mat- 
ters as intended. It was about time that we began 
to do some special work in the schools. All the 
schools in India, mission and non-mission schools, 
are not up to the times. The only method used in 
the lower schools until a few years ago was teaching 
“reading, and writing, and ’rithmetic to the tune of 
the hickory stick,’ but with the hickory stick not 
quite so necessary as in America because of the more 
peaceful nature of our Indian boys and girls. In 
some classes aS many as two-thirds of the students 
have been known to fail, so all the teachers did was 
to make the pupils memorize and recite like parrots. 
That condition must be overcome and teachers taught 
how to teach and to reach the backward. 

Mr. Rookie: The other day I noticed a teacher counting on 
his fingers to do a simple little example in arithmetic. 

Rev. Koenig: (Sighing) ... Yes, that’s what we had to 
put up with in the past. Now we are getting down 
to business. We find that the most approved Amer- 
ican educational methods work excellently in India, 
and that the Indian children are not stupid at all 
but need better schools and better teachers in order 
to do better at school. My plan is—to have the 
teachers meet in groups at special conferences so 


samen YS enees 


that I can drill them in better methods. Usually I 
spend a whole week at one school in an effort to pull 
them out of their ruts. At Bisrampur I am trying 
to build up a model school to which every teacher 
will eventually be brought to study the methods, to 
observe our best teachers aé work, an% to practice 
teaching under their superviNen,. You see we have 
some 50 odd schools with over 4,000 pupils, and that 
is quite a responsibility. Mission schools are un- 
doubtedly the pioneers for better schools in India. 

Mr. Rookie: Did you hear that our High School beat all 
the government schools of the district at football and 
cricket again? 

Rev. Koenig: Yes, I heard that. . .. The High School is 
doing splendid work in every line under the direction 
of Rev. Seybold. There are more non-Christians than 
Christians attending the High School. But even at 
that, it is more than a paying proposition, for just 
those educated Hindus who have received their edu- 
cation in our Christian colleges are the ones carry- 
ing out the reform movements in India to-day; and 
many of these reforms are decidedly Christian. ... 
It is Stanley Jones who has shown in his book, “The 
Christ of the Indian Road,’ that all India has 
adopted all sorts of Christian ideas which these non- 
Christians imbibed in our Christian schools. . 
Naturally many are turning to Christianity. 

That proves these higher schools of learning in India 
must produce the leaders who can and will do most 
to uplift India. 

Mr. Rookie: At the recent mela it seemed to me that the 
Indian people are beginning to think in larger terms 
and to be taking hold of things. They deserve the 
best type of leaders and leadership. The Christians 
of India should make this contribution to their peo- 


ners 


ple. ... Speaking of the mela, wasn’t that inspiring! 
Think of it; a thousand people coming long distances 
to live on that island for five days and to listen to 
such fine Christian preachers and leaders as Johan 
Massih morning, noon, and night. That mela im- 
pressed me, seeing the crowds squatting on the 
ground and listening to their own Indian singers 
chant the old gospel stories to the accompaniment of 
drums and their native instruments. It reminded 
me of Homer of ancient Greece singing his tales 
to his people... . Yes, you could see that Christianity 
is taking hold on India. 


Rev. Koenig: Have you been able to visit all the main sta- 


Mr. 


tions of our mission? 


Rookie: We have visited Bisrampur, Baitalpur, Par- 


sabhader and Sakti, all to the north. We still have 
Mahasamund and Khariar to the south to visit. So 
far we have only seen one or two of the many out- 
stations. 


Rev. Koenig: You have many interesting sights before you 


.. Sorry, but I must go. Want to visit the board- 
ing schools conducted by Mrs. Gass and Miss 
Schaeffer. You know these schools are strategical 
centers in our whole school system, and we are try- 
ing to make them all a real school should be... . 
Can’t you come with me, or have you some special 
task? — 


Mr. Rookie: Task? Yes, a real task. I must study Hindi 


for all that is in me, so that I can soon join you in 

this marvelous work. ‘ 

(As Rev. Koenig leaves, Mr. Rookie takes up his book, 
leaves the pages to find the right place, scratches 
his head, looks into book and then up again as if 
memorizing, as the curtain falls. 

(End of Act II.) 


Sse OF ca 


ACT III. 


Learning some more about India. 
Scene I—“Strange Things Happen” 


1. Three months later than Act II. Same room as 
in’ Act. i 


2. Evening, soon after dark. The lamps are lighted, 
and Mrs. Goetsch and Mrs. Rookie are eagerly reading mail 
from America. They read one letter after another with- 
out disturbing each other. 


Mrs. Rookie: Of all the holidays, ‘foreign Mail Day” seems 
to me the best. I can hardly wait until the next mail 
from the folks in America. ... And if I happen to 
get a skimpey mailing, I feel as though I was really 
lost in the jungle. Letters and magazines are our 
one link with home. 


Mrs. Goetsch: Yes, if we did not have these letters and 
magazines from home [ suppose we’d grow jungly 
and rusty. It is this reading matter sent by our 
loved ones and friends, these magazines and good 
books, which keep us civilized while in India. 


Mrs. Rookie: I have learned to appreciate that during my 
short stay here. All these newsy messages, and even 
the little gossiping contained, together with the il- 
lustrated papers and magazines, the latest books and 
now and then those phonographs and the newest and 
best records have helped to keep me mentally and 
socially.alive. I wish the folks back home could 
hear the, records of Sousa’s Band, and Caruso, and 
Schumann-Heink over here transforming our solitude 
and teaching the indians a new appreciation of 
musical art. I do hope someone will conceive the 
idea of sending us a powerful radio receiving set. 
I know we could get the stations at Calcutta, Bom- 


bay, Rome, Paris and London, and maybe ..even.. 
New York and St. Louis. 

Mrs. Goetsch: That would be glorious! ... Did you have 
good news from home? 

Mrs. Rookie: Most assuredly. All the folks are hale and 
hearty. And, look, here is a letter from some of the 
members of the congregation my husband served 
before coming to India... (Showing her letter with 
extra sheet pinned at bottom) ... See, .. quite a 
number signed it and pinned this sheet to the letter 
proper. ... It’s certainly a treat to receive a letter 
like that, for it recalls most pleasant memories and 
makes you feel that you are not forgotten while so 
far from home.... And, .. here’s another, . (Show- 
ing a dainty note) . from one of the girls of a Sun- 
day School Class, asking if her class might sub- 
scribe for the Ladies’ Home Journal to be sent to 
me here in India. . Well, that’s mighty thoughtful 
of them, . That’s better than a new dress! 

(Enter Rev. and Mrs. Schultz of Baitalpur.) 

Mrs. Schultz: Hai-yo! Mrs. Rookie is here. How’s Raipur, 
and what are you doing in this neck of the woods? 

Mrs. Rookie: (Drawing up chairs for the visitors) 


Ah, ... Wwe came to see a... wedding ... which 
took place this afternoon. 
Rev. Schultz: A wedding? ... And did it remind you of 


your own amalgamation under the orange blossoms 
and amid the flying rice in America? 

Mrs. Rookie: (For a moment she fumbles about head as if 
straightening a bridal veil and then acts as if dodg- 
ing flying rice, then laughs aloud.) No, it did not. 
(Shakes her head and acts disgusted.) Yet it was 
the funniest wedding ever. (Smiles, then chuckles 
to herself.) . . . Why, the bride arrived before the 
groom, . .. and walked right up the church aisle, 


ee, 


Mrs. 
Mrs. 


Rev. 


Mrs. 


Mrs. 


. (Makes motion showing direction up an imagi- 
nary aisle) ... until she came to a long bench... 
in front of the altar, ...and perched herself on one 
end of it,... (Seats herself on a chair in erect pos- 
ture) ... and waited about five minutes, ... With 
all the people looking right at her. .. .. (Laughs 
heartily) ... Imagine me doing that! ... (Continues 
with descriptive motions of the hands) ... . Then, 
after seemingly an age, ...the groom marched down 
the other aisle,.. .. and sat down ... on the op- 
posite end of the bench, . .. neither one looking at 
the other. .. .-Can you imagine Rookie doing that 
in America? ... Well, then they were married, ... 
standing about six feet part, ...and, when it was all 
over, .. . without having looked at each other, ... 
each marched down an opposite aisle, -..the groom 
walking away with the men, ...and the bride with 
the women. .. . Both looked awfully scared and 
afraid of each other. ...Oh me, Oh. my! 
(Although accustomed to such formalities, the little 

group seems to enjoy Mrs. Rookie’s narration and 

manifest much interest and delight.) 
Schultz: And did you attend the wedding feast? 
Rookie: Would not have missed that for a fortune! 
... (Chuckles) ... It was held at the school house 

(Again motioning) ... All the men were 

squatted on the floor on one side of the room with 
‘the groom, and all the women sat likewise with the 
bride on the other side. 


Schultz: (Interrupting her) ... Did you eat with 

your fingers? 

Goetsch: (Interjecting quickly) ...I say she did; 
.. and you could see it on her face afterwards. 

Rookie: (Pointing) .. . Look, . .. see this spot 
on my face? . ... That’s where I got some curry on 


pee Ty een 


my face and scorched it..... My, but they eat hot, 
peppery stuff. ... After taking about two bites of 
rice and curry my mouth felt like a volcano. . 
(Motioning them away) ... Don’t come too close to 
me .. or my breath will scorch you even now... 
(All draw away in mock fear.) 


Mrs. Goetsch: The wedding feast is still in progress. We 


came away knowing there would be this foreign mail 
waiting for us and that you were planning to ar- 
rive. In a little while we shall go out to see the 
groom come to claim his bride. That’s always most 
interesting. 


Rev. Schultz: You know our Christian weddings back home 


Mrs. 


are tame in comparison to these typical ones in 
India. These Hindu weddings usually last several 
days and cost a lot of money, After an Indian mar- 
ries off his daughter he is often in debt for a number 
of years because of it, or he let’s the savings of a 
lifetime go for one wedding. We try to discourage 
that where we can. 

Schultz: By the way, Mrs. Rookie; where is your 
Bridegroom this evening? 


Mrs. Rookie: (Rather proudly) ...Oh, he went out . hunt- 


ing . a little while ago. Some of the people report 
that a jungle cat passes by a certain place about 
this time every evening, so he went out to get it. 


Rev. Schultz: (Interrupting eagerly) ... We have good 


news, Ladies! You know, ever since the discovery 
of a cure for leprosy a few years ago, we have been 
experimenting much with the same and have had 
excellent results. Now we received instructions from 
the “Society of Mission to Lepers,’ for whom we 
manage the Baitalpur Leper Asylum, that we are 
to change the institution from a home for “burnt 
out” lepers—those who are banished by their people, 


meen Coes 


into a modern hospital for the cure of leprous cases. 
As it is, we have one of the largest asylums in 
India, but in a few years we are to have one of the 
finest leper hospitals in all the world, possibly ac- 
commodating over 800 patients instead of only 500 
as at present. That will be a boon to many a poor 
body and heart. 

Mrs. Rookie: But is there really a cure for leprosy? I was 
always told that leprosy is incurable. 

Rev. Schultz: So it was until a few years ago, but this 
new cure is working miracles. Of course, we can 
hardly grow back a finger that has rotted off, but 
with this new cure we can arrest the spread and 
kill the infection in a few months time so that the 
patient can rejoin his family and work without 
danger to anyone. And that is doing something for 
them at least. 


(Enter Mr. Rookie, with his gun, but looking dis- 


gusted.) 
Different voices: What luck? . . . Where’s that cat? .. 
Hunting season closed? 
Mrs. Rookie: (Comfortingly) ..°. And what did my mighty 
Nimrod fetch? 
Mr. Rookie: (Resting on his gun) ..:I1. almost . got 


a big black animal. 
Different voices: Almost? 


Mrs. Schultz: ‘‘Almost” is the hunter’s alibi. . . . Tell us, 
where does your “almost” come in? ... What hap- 
pened? 


Mr. Rookie: After telling me all about that jungle cat, the 
men and boys showed me the tree past which that 
jungle cat stalks every night. So I take my position 
near by, sitting down on a rock, with my back 


eS 


against the fence. It was dark there, and I could 
hardly see the barrel of my gun, let alone the sights. 
So I moved to a position where a little moonlight 
fell on the sights, cocked the gun and aimed it at 
the exact spot where that cat was supposed to pass. 
After holding my gun in that position for half an 
hour, and startled by every leaf that moved, I sud- 
‘denly heard a great noise like that of a wild ele- 
phant right over my head. 


Mrs. Schultz: (Interrupting) :.. Just listen how that cat 
tale grows! Now it’s an elephant; next it will be 
the shade of a dinosaur. . Tell me, since when do 
elephants fly? 

Mr. Rookie: (Addressing Rev. Schultz) ... Sahib, kindly 


commana your wife to be silent until I have finished 
with the story! ... (Then, continuing) I didn’t 
say it was an elephant. I did say that it made as 
much noise as an elephant...... Well, I jumped 
up,. .and there was the great, big, coal black thing 
running along the top of the fence . (Makes descrip- 
tive motions) . right over the place where I was 
sitting. . . . (Others look startled, try to ask ques- 
tions, such as “Did you shoot?’ . Why didn’t you 
shoot? etc.) Sure I shot at it, . .. but because I 
couldn’t see the sights on my gunbarrel I missed 
it. ... (More questions, “What did it do?” . “Couldn’t 
you grab it?” ..) I was so close to it I could have 
caught it by the tail. . . (Questions, “Why didn’t 
you?”’) ... I was afraid it was a black leopard... . 
(Everybody laughs.) 

Rev. Schultz: Hold on there. That was probably a “but- 
schu” or “binturong,”’ a sort of civet cat. But you 
are stretching its size a bit, for they are never larger 
than a good sized tom cat in America but have a long, 
bushy tail. You were certainly seeing things. 


er} eae 


Mr. Rookie: Cat or no cat; tail or comet; I didn’t care 
to grab it, so I hit it with my gun, and, sure enough, 
it fell from the fence to the ground and ran away. 
My, that thing could run! (Everybody laughs.) 

Mrs. Schultz: Why didn’t you run after it, or did you run 
away from it? 

Rev. Schultz: Say, friend Rookie; by the time you have 
shot at fifty or more animals in the dark you may 
be able to hit something. 

Mr. Rookie: The funny thing about it all is, that after a 
bit a man came running to me and pointed up a 
tree. In that tree were two more of those animals. 
So I shot again and one fell down. Then I wanted 
to fire again, but the empty shell stuck in the barrel, 
giving the other critter a chance to escape by leap- 
ing to another tree. Then, when I looked around for 
that whatcha-ma-call-em” that had fallen down when 
I shot, lo and behold, it likewise had disappeared. 
No doubt it was merely wounded and could still run. 

Mrs. Schultz: Are you positive you actually hit it and that 
it did not merely leap to the ground? Men are often 
fooled in the dark. 

(Enter Rey. Goetsch, who greets every one present.) 

Rev. Goetsch: (As all are seated again) ... This is cer- 
tainly interesting. Do you remember the man who 
was wounded by the wild boar some three months 
ago? He was just over to see me. After his recovery 
he became much interested in Christianity. He, and 
his wife, and his son, desire baptism, and his son 
even asks to become a teacher in our work, in other 
words—wants to be a preacher. He says he also 
wants to go about telling his people of the men who 
heal the sick and the injured, and about the great 
teacher, Jesus, who was the friend of the helpless. 
Of course, sending this boy to the seminary at Raipur 


ey 


is a bit premature, but I will certainly ask Dr. Gass, 
the director of the seminary, to speak to the boy 
and his father when he comes to Bisrampur again. 
Perhaps the boy can attend the regular and high 
school at Raipur meanwhile, and later be admitted 
to the seminary. By that time we can test his sin- 
cerity and his qualifications. 

Mr. Schultz: We can’t train too many Indians for this 
work of the Lord, and we cannot train them too 
well. We need those of the right heart and mind. 
Our three Indian pastors are good, very good, but we 
need many more like them if we would reach all this 
vast population in our territory, 

Rev. Goetsch: The Bisrampur congregation’s first Indian 
pastor is to arrive next month. It is certainly a 
step forward to have some of our Indian congrega- 
tions support and elect their own Indian pastors. 
With this much accomplished I can see the develop- 
ment of their initiative and interest. And, think 
of it, most of these people have risen to this self- 
government from practical serfdom ... Not chang- 
ing the subject, Mrs. Rookie, did you see that happy 
couple’s new house today? 

Mrs. Rookie: I should say I did. And it was the surprise 
of my life. I found that this house which every- 
body praised as being such a wonderful mansion and 
worthy of the headmaster of the school, consisted 
of one room only. Some may have thought it to 
be a mansion because of the little thatched shed 
at the side of it so the cow would not need to sleep 
in the house proper. Tell me, if that’s a “mansion,” 
what’s a “‘king’s palace?’ And you should have seen 
what the women were doing to the floor of this man- 
sion and bridal chamber. 


Baan TA es 


Rev. Goetsch: I think I know. But tell it anyway. 


Mrs. Rookie: They were painting it with a thick paste of 
water, lime and cow-dung. 

Mrs. Goetsch: (Laughing) Oh, that is the height of cus- 
tom here. No house is considered clean and fit for 
occupancy without that preparation. 

(Mrs. Goetsch looks at her watch and moves to the 
door. ) 

Mrs. Goetsch: Gome, friends; it’s time for the groom to 
get his bride. 

Mrs. Schultz: (Standing in doorway to hold everybody 
back) ... Before we leave, let us do honor to our 
mighty hunter who so heroically saved the life of a 
poor animal or two. 

Mrs. Goetsch: Saved the life? How did he save it? 


Mrs. Schultz: He. shot. at it. and. missed. it. 


(All leave the room in merriment as the curtain falls 
ending scene.) 





ACT IIl. 
Scene IJ—“But none stranger than This.” 


1. Still Bisrampur, but outside the gate and grounds 
of the Girls’ Orphanage, and immediately following Scene 
1. It is night. 


2. No one is seen on the stage, but the excited voices 
and giggling of the girls can be heard behind the gate. 
Someone opens this and quickly closes it again, calling, 
“Here they come!” Talking and laughter subsides. The 
bridegroom and his companions, carrying crude lanterns 
and lights, approach from one side and the missionaries 
from the other. 


Ss 6 


3. Dukeram advances to gate and knocks loudly. 
Martha: (From within) ... Who is there? 
Dukeram: The Bridegroom. 
Martha: What does he want? 
Dukeram: His Bride. 
Martha: Who is his Bride? 
Dukeram: Pyare, who is fair as the lotus. 
Martha: Pyare is our sister; and we will not give her up. 
He cannot have her. 
Dukeram: But what is a Bridegroom to do without his 
Bride? He must have her! ... Give her up! 
See the Bridegroom waits most impatiently. 
Give us the Bride. 
(Many voices are heard from within saying: We 
will not give up our Sister! ... We will not give 


her up! .. . You can not have her!—Let all be 
said loudly but not in concert. Let all be real- 
istic. ) 


(Dukeram and party withdraw to a distance and 
hold a conference. Then the bridegroom returns 
to the gate.) 

Dukeram: The Bridegroom must have his Bride. He will 
give much money for her. 

Voices from within: How much? 

Dukeram: As much as you wish. Great wealth; more than 
you have ever seen. 

Voices from within: Ten rupees! 

Dukeram: That is too much. 

(Some girls come out, but not the bride, the groom 
stepping up to bargain with them. The scene be- 
comes very animated, for the Indian bargains and 
haggles over everything he buys or sells. Part 
pantomime, part own lines.) 

Premdas: I will give one rupee. 


OE a 


Hannah: For shame, Bridegroom. Would you insult our 
sister by offering only one rupee for such a beauti- 
ful bride. . . . We will keep our Sister, 


Premdas: But I am not a rajah. I am only a poor head 
schoolmaster. I will give one rupee and eight annas, 


Girls: No! .. .No! ...No! .... Ten rupees or nothing. 

Premdas: Two rupees, 

Girls: That is too little. Such a beautiful bride. 

Dukeram: (Stepping up) . .. Come now, let us make a 

real bargain. How much would you let us have her 

for? Remember the Bridgegroom is a very good 
man and will make a very good husband. ... (The 
girls withdraw to confer.) 

Martha: (Returning first) ... If he promises to treat 
her very well we will let him have her for five rupees. 
But he must let her come to see us often. 

Dukeram: That is somewhat better. But only a rajah can 
pay five rupees. 

Premdas: I will. give half of five rupees: two rupees and 
eight annas. 


Girls: Never! ... Never! ... Never! Our beautiful Bride 
only two rupees and eight annas? ... No! 
Never! 


(The haggling continues and can be drawn out to 
any length desirable. There are sixteen annas 
to a rupee.) 


Premdas: I see you are stubborn. ... I will give three 
rupees. 

Hannah: Oh, how little for such a bride. 

Girls: Let us see the money. | 

Premdas: Will you give me the bride?....... (Shows the 
money.) pees ae 


RT 


Girls: Give it to us. ... (Hannah takes. it.) 


Premdas: Now, give me the Bride! 

(They bring her out. Pyare looks bashful and Prem- 
das steps back. All the girls kiss her and wail: 
“Our Sister is leaving us!” After a bit of this, 
the missionaries come forward to congratulate the 
couple, shaking hands.) 

Premdas: (To Bride). Shall we go? 

(She nods bashfully, but says nothing. Premdas 
walks away slowly, Pyare six feet behind him and 
looking neither to right nor left until off the stage. 
The girls wail, some actually cry. All remain be- 
hind as Mrs. Rookie steps forward and says so 
everybody hears: “The poor Bride; he hasn’t 
kissed her yet!” ..... Curtain falls quickly, only 
to rise again in a moment, showing stage lit up, 
a bench in center and on it at either end Premdas 
and Pyare, both still looking frightened. Other 
characters may group as tableau. 


THE END. 


Cy 





(Pronunciation rules: Sound all vowels as in German— 
aah; e like ay or eh; i like eye; o like oh; u like ou. 
Accent of words, in most cases, on second last syllable.) 


= $9 a. 


PUBLIC STATEMENT to be made during performance 
by pastor or others. 


Our Evangelical Synod has been at work in the Central 
Provinces of India since 1884, at that time taking over the 
two stations organized earlier by a missionary society con- 
sisting of German congregations of different denominations 
in New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and other eastern 
cities. Since then this number has grown to seven main 
stations and one medical station with 54 branches called 
“out-stations.” The territory now involved and manned 
by our church is half as large as the state of Indiana and 
has a population of a little over two million people. 

In addition to the seven main stations this ‘““American 
Evangelical Mission” conducts the leper Asylum at Baital- 
pur, 60 public schools, with 4,222 scholars, one high school 
for boys and hostel or dormitory, 6 orphanages and board- 
ing homes for children, one home for blind people, one 
home for women, one training school for catechists and one 
for women workers, likewise 7 dispensaries or clinics and 
the hospital begun at Tilda. 

The force at work in 1927 consisted of 13 married Amer- 
ican workers, one married American doctor, 7 unmarried 
American ladies and one unmarried missionary, 4 Indian 
pastors, 98 catechists, 165 male and 27 female teachers, 30 
Bible women and one colporter. 

The play about to be given carries us right into the 
midst of all this work and explain many of the details. 

The second foreign field of our Evangelical Synod is 
in Honduras, Central America, with one main station and 
two preaching places in the city of San Pedro Sula, three 
out-stations and other points of contact. Four married and 
5 lady workers have been sent from America and a pastor 
born in Honduras added to the force, Here the work is 
chiefly educational and evangelistic, but it must branch out 
into other forms of Christian service in the days to come. 


eh 











